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Topic: Les Miserables

Robert Harrison
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 239
From: Harwood Heights, Illinois, USA
Registered: Jun 2005

posted 01-01-2013 11:25 AM

2 and a half hours is a long time to sit through a bunch of people singing about how miserable they are.

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Dave Macaulay
Film God

Posts: 2321
From: Toronto, Canada
Registered: Apr 2001

posted 01-01-2013 06:54 PM

I have to respect your endurance. I walked out after about 20 minutes.

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Mark Lensenmayer
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1605
From: Upper Arlington, OH
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 01-01-2013 07:05 PM

My wife summed it up very well. About 2/3 of the way through, she just quietly said, "Please, just stop singing!"

It would have been a bit better if Crowe and Jackman's parts had been pitched a bit lower. Both were forced to sing much too high.

There are just too many close-up's in this movie. It's too intense, and there is just not a break.

Anne Hathaway did a great job on her song...best thing in the picture. Too bad it is in the first 1/2-hour.

Very disappointing. Worst movie of the season, so far.

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Jonathan Goeldner
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1360
From: Washington, District of Columbia
Registered: Jun 2008

posted 01-08-2013 11:39 AM

even the whole stage version is entirely sung - why is this a surprise or an annoyance? [Big Grin]

thankfully the stage version has an intermission, but yes, it's a bit overbearing. Crowe's singing is hit and miss but not as bad as Pierce Brosnan in "Mamma Mia!"

as for the closeups - knowing this is a Tom Hooper film and every single interview with the cast noting the camera was placed so IN YOUR FACE - this was expected. But as a result, the vocals were pushed front and center, that the musical score was dramatically lacking - I couldn't even imagine how wasted the 7.1 mix of the film must sound. [Now bring on 'Miss Saigon' in Dolby Atmos!!!]

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Jonathan Goeldner
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1360
From: Washington, District of Columbia
Registered: Jun 2008

posted 01-19-2013 08:11 PM

what was ever wrong with the 35mm print I saw at the Avalon theater - the DCP I saw over at the Angelika was a completely different story, all the music and sound effects seemed more prominent including the use of the two rear center surround channels (in 7.1) - NOW I understand why it's been nominated for sound mixing.

I still like the movie, despite the grumblings from others in this thread topic.

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Joe Redifer
You need a beating today

Posts: 12859
From: Denver, Colorado
Registered: May 99

posted 01-19-2013 10:05 PM

quote: Jonathan Goeldner
even the whole stage version is entirely sung - why is this a surprise or an annoyance?

Perhaps many who went to see the movie know little to nothing about the stage version? It's not like only people who have seen the play will or are allowed to see the movie. That's just silly. So yes it can be surprising and definitely annoying. Also, movies are not the same thing as plays. Plays are mostly for hoity-toity people who would consider it "art". Movies are for all people. What works for a play might not work for a movie and vice-versa.

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Stu Jamieson
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 524
From: Buccan, Qld, Australia
Registered: Jan 2008

posted 01-20-2013 07:42 AM

Wait, there are people who have never heard of the Les Mis stage play?

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Mark J. Marshall
Film God

Posts: 3188
From: New Castle, DE, USA
Registered: Aug 2002

posted 01-20-2013 11:40 AM

I didn't particularly care for the movie either, although I had hopes for it. I've never seen the play, read the book, or seen any other telling of this story in any form, so I didn't really know what to expect. But I didn't like it.

I don't think the amount of singing bothered me. Jesus Christ Superstar is just about all singing too, and I love that stage show and movie. I just didn't like the music I guess. Except for Ann Hathaway's song, which everyone knows, and which she did a spectacular job with. Other than that, the rest of the songs... eh. I don't think that's necessarily the fault of anyone involved with making this movie. I just didn't care for it.

Some people are emotional about it though.

YouTube Link

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Jonathan Goeldner
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1360
From: Washington, District of Columbia
Registered: Jun 2008

posted 01-20-2013 01:43 PM

quote: Joe Redifer
Perhaps many who went to see the movie know little to nothing about the stage version? It's not like only people who have seen the play will or are allowed to see the movie. That's just silly. So yes it can be surprising and definitely annoying. Also, movies are not the same thing as plays. Plays are mostly for hoity-toity people who would consider it "art". Movies are for all people. What works for a play might not work for a movie and vice-versa.

reverse elitism - eh? why defend culturally ineptness?

quote: Stu Jamieson
Wait, there are people who have never heard of the Les Mis stage play?

Shocking!! [Eek!]

as if some people live in caves or don't even read Entertainment Weekly.

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Joe Redifer
You need a beating today

Posts: 12859
From: Denver, Colorado
Registered: May 99

posted 01-20-2013 01:54 PM

Ah yes, because seeing plays is "cultured". I'd say movies are a bigger culture than plays. It's people like you who make me hate people like you.

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Jonathan Goeldner
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1360
From: Washington, District of Columbia
Registered: Jun 2008

posted 01-20-2013 02:04 PM

well duh - movies are a bigger culture than plays.

quote: Joe Redifer
Ah yes, because seeing plays is "cultured". I'd say movies are a bigger culture than plays. It's people like you who make me hate people like you.

come on Joe, really? ... sad [moving on]

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Barry Floyd
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1079
From: Lebanon, Tennessee, USA
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 01-20-2013 11:01 PM

quote: Mark Lensenmayer
Anne Hathaway did a great job on her song...best thing in the picture. Too bad it is in the first 1/2-hour.

One thing my wife noticed about Anne Hathaway's song.... it looks as if she did it in one take. The camera NEVER cuts away from her face for the entire song.

I've seen the play, and now I've seen the movie. I really never could follow the plot line during the play, but the movie made sense.

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Stu Jamieson
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 524
From: Buccan, Qld, Australia
Registered: Jan 2008

posted 01-20-2013 11:17 PM

It was the only take she did, wasn't it? I'm sure I read that somewhere.

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Mark J. Marshall
Film God

Posts: 3188
From: New Castle, DE, USA
Registered: Aug 2002

posted 01-21-2013 09:38 PM

I thought a lot of the songs were in one long take.

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Chris Slycord
Film God

Posts: 2986
From: 퍼항시, 경상푹도, South Korea
Registered: Mar 2007

posted 01-22-2013 03:27 AM

quote: Stu Jamieson
Wait, there are people who have never heard of the Les Mis stage play?

People can hear of something while not knowing the details of it.

Like if you only heard that there was a stage play of Les Mis, that wouldn't tell you that it was 100% sung and certainly wouldn't tell you that the new movie version of the story would also be so.

Also, just because one hears that there's an all-musical stage play, that doesn't mean that they will remember this fact when the movie comes out nor may connect that the style of the latter is taken directly from the former.

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